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For sale : World's smallest country (Principality of Sealand)
Antara News (Indonesia) ^ | January 8, 2007

Posted on 01/07/2007 11:55:54 PM PST by HAL9000

London (ANTARA News) - A former World War II fort in the North Sea, which was settled 40 years ago and declared a state with its own self-proclaimed royal family, is up for sale, The Times said Monday.

The tiny Principality of Sealand, which began life as Roughs Tower in 1941, is a 550 square metre (658 square yard) steel platform perched on two concrete towers 11 kilometres (seven miles) off the coast of Harwich, eastern England.

It is accessible only by helicopter and boat but according to its owners, who want offers of eight digits or over, boasts uninterrupted sea views, guarantees complete privacy and is a tax haven.

"We have owned the island for 40 years now and my father is 85," Prince Michael of Sealand was quoted by AFP as saying. "Perhaps it is time for some rejuvenation.

"Astronomical figures have been mentioned but we will just see what comes forward."

Although its nation status is disputed, Sealand boasts a military past like any other country, defending its sovereignty from outside threats.

Former British army major Paddy Roy Bates began occupying the island with his family in 1967, declared it a state in international waters and gave himself the title "prince".

Britain's Royal Navy attempted to evict him the following year but were unsuccessful. As they entered territorial waters, Roy of Sealand fired warning shots from the former fort.

A judge then ruled in his favour that Sealand was outside British government control as it was beyond the three-mile limit of the country's waters.

In 1974, Roy of Sealand introduced a constitution. A flag, national anthem, currency -- the gold and silver Sealand dollar which is the equivalent to the US dollar -- and passports have followed suit.

Four years later, Dutch and German businessmen on Sealand to discuss a business deal kidnapped Roy's son but were overpowered and held as prisoners of war before eventually being released.



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: datahaven; godsgravesglyphs; havenco; northsea; sealand
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To: Lil'freeper

"A coat of paint... some petunias in planters... maybe a water feature..."


Er, it's already got a rather loud water feature. On the site I listed there's a video taken from one of the legs of the Isle.

http://www.xtrasi.co.uk/index.asp?show=sealandvideos

It's rather peaceful listening to the roar of the North Sea.


61 posted on 01/08/2007 5:47:28 AM PST by Sally'sConcerns
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To: STARWISE
It's not as isolated as it looks. It's 8 miles from Harwich.

A speedboat will get you to the nearest Tesco's in about 15-20 minutes.

Some clowns are making a movie about how Paddy Bates managed to steal this facility from the UK taxpayers. His son is hoping to cash in on the anticipated notoriety.

62 posted on 01/08/2007 5:49:32 AM PST by wideawake
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To: STARWISE
Talk about isolated... WOW.

LOL! A picture is worth a thousand words. Libertarians have been kicking around Sealand as a libertarian paradise for years. It somehow seems very fitting.

63 posted on 01/08/2007 5:50:44 AM PST by Aquinasfan (When you find "Sola Scriptura" in the Bible, let me know)
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To: LukeL
Nope. It's not a real country. The guy who owns it claims it is a tax haven.

But's it's really just a loony in a rusty shack.

64 posted on 01/08/2007 5:54:39 AM PST by wideawake
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To: Erasmus

The thing to do would be to declare war on a small country, and sign an alliance agreement with the USA, and get them to give you a navy, and all that. Get a couple billion (what the hell, it's only government money) in military aid from USA.


65 posted on 01/08/2007 5:57:34 AM PST by Fierce Allegiance (SAY NO TO RUDY!)
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To: supremedoctrine
Yeah, they could lob shells from boxes of Barilla pasta back and forth. Now THAT is the way to fight a war.

You have to be very careful with the 30mm manicotti rounds, i hear. The lasagna rounds just kind of go flat, though.

66 posted on 01/08/2007 6:01:04 AM PST by Fierce Allegiance (SAY NO TO RUDY!)
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To: traditional1
Why does the old standard, "The Mouse that Roared" come to mind.

That's where a tiny country declares "War" on the U.S., and then reaps millions in foreign aid to rebuild, I think. Used to be a regular in the class plys in High Schools across the country, along with "Arsenic and Old Lace".

The book was by Leonard Wibberly:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Wibberley

The idea was that the Duchy of Grand Fenwick would declare war on the US, lose, and get rehabilitated with millions of dollars.

Unfortunately, the invasion force of about 30 men-at-arms equipped with longbows and swords, accidentally captures a professor and the Q-Bomb (which can blow up North America). So Grand Fenwick accidentally wins the war and becomes the most powerful country on Earth...
67 posted on 01/08/2007 7:04:05 AM PST by GreenLanternCorps (Hi, I'm the DREAD PIRATE ROBERTS! (TM) Ask about franchise opportunities in your area!)
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To: HAL9000

Sealand is not listed in the CIA World Factbook.


68 posted on 01/08/2007 7:06:56 AM PST by Lazamataz (Me a skeptic? I trust you have proof.)
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To: Squantos; Eaker; humblegunner

Squantos, this has got your name all over it. Perfect sea-side cottage/VWRC compound all in one.


69 posted on 01/08/2007 7:09:47 AM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Lazamataz
Sealand is not listed in the CIA World Factbook.

They need to start a nuke program and remedy that!

70 posted on 01/08/2007 7:12:16 AM PST by Tijeras_Slim
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To: HAL9000

Looks like an Islamic paradise waiting for its Mahdi.


71 posted on 01/08/2007 7:20:13 AM PST by cookcounty (The "Greatest Generation" was also the most violent generation.)
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To: Swordmaker
We just have to find the right currency to make our offer... something that has a very large inflation factor.

Zimbabwe Dollars?

72 posted on 01/08/2007 7:24:04 AM PST by LexBaird (98% satisfaction guaranteed. There's just no pleasing some people.)
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To: Lazamataz; Conspiracy Guy
Sealand is not listed in the CIA World Factbook.

So, it's a conspiracy then.

73 posted on 01/08/2007 7:30:43 AM PST by LexBaird (98% satisfaction guaranteed. There's just no pleasing some people.)
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To: GreenLanternCorps
That's the story...The Mouse That Roared.

Why it was brought to mind was that you could buy this island, join the UN, declare war on the U.S., then get funding via Foreign Aid (the extortion scheme used by all the third world banana republics today to get millions of U.S. dollars NOT to cause trouble!)

74 posted on 01/08/2007 8:02:16 AM PST by traditional1
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To: wideawake

Not as rusty as the Maunsell forts further in the Thames estuary (My late uncle was a sergeant in the Royal Engineers and served on Shivering Sands Fort during the Second World War).

Pics here: - http://subterrain.org.uk/maunsell/part3.html


75 posted on 01/08/2007 8:47:55 AM PST by ThatchersKiddie
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To: ellery

About a year ago I did a search for the world's smallest country & can no longer remember why, nor can I find the exact URL that I found. Sealand isn't the only one. The sad history of the Republic of Rose Island should be remembered.

http://www.angelfire.com/nv/micronations/selfproclaimed.html


76 posted on 01/08/2007 9:47:09 AM PST by GoLightly
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To: Fierce Allegiance

Funny, I just bought some Ronzoni Manicotti, I'm not sure it was 30 mm., though, only because it was on sale.
The joke of course is that "shells" is a common pasta variety.


77 posted on 01/08/2007 9:52:50 AM PST by supremedoctrine ("Talent hits a target no one else can hit, genius hits a target no one else can see"--Schopenhauer)
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To: Sally'sConcerns
They have a diary reflecting the progress made during 4 visits to the Principality of Sealand.

RATS! You can't wear your boots in bed in Sealand! The first invasion of civil rights in what once was a free country!

78 posted on 01/08/2007 9:52:55 AM PST by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
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To: HAL9000
A judge then ruled in his favour that Sealand was outside British government control as it was beyond the three-mile limit of the country's waters.

Apparently, idiot judges are universal.

79 posted on 01/08/2007 9:57:47 AM PST by Psycho_Bunny
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To: HAL9000

The Brits should have put a torpedo in that wreck years ago, then arrested "Prince Roy" and charged him with treason. Or better yet, revoke his citizenship, and exile him, a man without a country.


80 posted on 01/08/2007 10:01:14 AM PST by DesScorp (.)
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